Yuan Rong said: "We have already found out that the four people went in the direction of the Book-giving Platform."
Shi Hao pondered and said, "The teaching platform?"
Yuan Rong introduced: "The Book-giving Terrace is located to the west of Feifeng Peak, across the river from Shennv Peak. It is one of the three terraces and eight scenic spots in Wuxia, and is also known as Dayu's Book-giving Terrace. According to legend, Dayu received a book from the goddess at this terrace, and was taught the secret method of flood control."
Sha Lingshan asked, "It's still the same four people, no changes?"
Yuan Rong said, "That's right! There's Miss Du Yuejiao, there's 'Monkey Thief' Hou Bomin, there's that weird looking woman with a sack on her back, and there's that pretty girl with makeup on. There's no one else except these four."
After a pause, he whispered, "Recently, many warriors have sneaked into Wuxia, and their origins are unknown. In addition, people from the Six Gates and the Barbarian Army have also stationed here to investigate the strange phenomena here."
Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan looked at each other.
Sha Ling stood up and floated to the window, opened the window covered with gauze, and looked out at the rolling thunderclouds high above: "I wanted to ask earlier, why is the weather like this in Wuxia in autumn?"
Yuan Rong said, "Master, let alone autumn, Wu Gorge has never had such weather. I have been stationed here for sixteen years, and this is the first time I have seen such weather."
Shi Hao stood up and asked, "When did this phenomenon begin?"
Yuan Rong said: "Today is exactly the third day. At noon the day before yesterday, the thunderstorm seemed to suddenly appear from the void, and in just half an hour it covered the twelve peaks of Wu Gorge, causing panic among the people in the Wu Gorge area, and no one knew what had happened."
Shi Hao pondered and said, "There is a strange phenomenon in the sky. I'm afraid there will be some disaster. Have the people in the surrounding area been evacuated?"
Yuan Rong said, "Young Master! Most of the people living in Wu Gorge are mountain dwellers. Wu Gorge is in chaos now, and the outside world is even more chaotic than Wu Gorge. How dare they leave casually?"
"If you stay in the mountains, the soldiers may not have time to catch you. If you flee outside, you will be treated as a refugee and your fate may be even worse. However, because this strange phenomenon came so suddenly, many forces are stepping up their investigation. There are also many mountain strongholds in the Wu Gorge area, outside the Twelve Peaks, and many other peaks and ridges. There are also many bandit strongholds among them. They are all in panic at the moment, not knowing what happened."
Sha Lingshan looked at Shi Hao and said, "Young Master, Miss Yue Jiao's sudden visit from Changbai Mountain could be related to the strange phenomena here?"
Shi Hao shook his head and said, "It's hard to say."
He said to Yuan Rong: "We are a little tired after flying all the way here. Please arrange a room for us first and have someone prepare hot food and water. We will rest here for two hours before going to the teaching platform."
Yuan Rong said, "Yes!" and led the four of them out of the side hall, but not to the west wing, but to the empty bedroom in the back garden.
Shi Hao looked at Sha Lingshan and said, "Sister Sha, the three of you should go and rest first."
Sha Ling fanned herself and said with a smile, "Okay!" She took Madam Plum Blossom and Madam Peach Blossom away.
Shi Hao had nothing to do, so he wandered around the women's temple for a while.
In the main hall, the Three Pure Ones are worshipped, which is a matter of course. In front of the side hall, there is a large incense burner filled with ash, with large and small incense sticks in the burner, which shows that the incense is very strong.
Shi Hao walked into the side hall with his hands behind his back. In front of him was an incense table. On the stone behind the table was a statue of a goddess.
This statue of the goddess is even better maintained than the Three Pure Ones in the main hall. The goddess, dressed in colorful clothes and standing gracefully, is exquisitely carved and lifelike.
She had a long skirt, two sleeves fluttering in the wind, a slender figure, and a beautiful face. Shi Hao took a look and felt that this goddess looked a little familiar. When he looked again, he felt that she looked very familiar. He could not help but come out of the side hall and summon a Taoist nun: "Ask your master to come over."
After a while, Yuan Rong came to him and bowed, "What do you want, young master?"
Shi Hao reentered the side hall and pointed at the goddess on the stage: "Do all the goddesses worshipped in Wuxia look like this?"
Yuan Rong smiled and said, "Not really! In fact, the goddesses in various goddess temples are slightly different. After all, no one knows what the legendary goddess looks like, so the statues are all based on imagination. The people don't really care what the goddess really looks like, as long as she is a goddess."
Shi Hao said: "Then the goddess of this Taoist temple is carved in this way, I think there must be some reason."
He pointed at the statue of the goddess and asked doubtfully.
This goddess is extremely beautiful and looks exactly like the fairy Shengxuan.
There is no reason why the goddess carved out of imagination and worshipped by the people would be exactly the same as Ye Ziyin
Yuan Rong said: "This has some history. As far as I know, three hundred years ago, there seemed to be a natural disaster in the Wushan area, which caused continuous disasters and heavy casualties."
"Later, clouds and mist suddenly emerged, and a stunningly beautiful woman appeared above the clouds. Immediately afterwards, the shaking of the mountains and rivers stopped. At that time, there happened to be a painter here, who painted the woman on the clouds."
"After the painter passed away, his son donated the painting to Ningzhen Temple according to his will. At that time, Ningzhen Temple was not yet a stronghold of our Black Lotus Realm. The then female temple master invited people to carve this statue of the goddess according to the painting. After that, the female temple began to prosper gradually."
Shi Hao asked, "Three hundred years ago? Hmm, is the portrait still there?"
Yuan Rong said, "It is still in my room. Please wait a moment, young master. I will go get it right away."
Shi Hao waited here for a while until Yuan Rong came to him holding a long box.
She opened the long box, took out the scroll inside, and handed it to the young master.
Shi Hao took it and slowly opened it, and saw a stunning woman standing above the clouds, with a gorgeous appearance that was so stunning that it could overwhelm the whole country.
If Shi Hao had begun to suspect when he saw the "Goddess Portrait", now after seeing the portrait, he was further confirmed that the beauty in the painting was indeed Ye Ziyin.
Sister Ziyan has also been here? He wondered in his heart.
However, three hundred years ago, the Taoists and demons fought against each other, which triggered a catastrophe in the martial arts world.
It is not so strange that Ye Ziyin has traveled all over the martial arts world and visited Wu Gorge.
He thought for a moment and said, "Can you let me take this portrait with me first?"
Yuan Rong hurriedly said, "Young Master, just take it." She was afraid that the Young Master would not want to accept her gift. Since the Young Master had taken the initiative to ask for it, why would she refuse
Shi Hao nodded, rolled up the scroll, put it back into the long box, and let Yuan Rong go about her own business.
After Yuan Rong left, a flash of light appeared on Shi Hao's shoulder, and Little Feicui appeared: "Young Master, Ye Ziyin is the master's great enemy, and he is also the young master's great enemy..."
Shi Hao said, "I understand!" and turned to walk towards his room.
Little Jadeite chased after him: "Young Master, this woman is cunning and scheming, you must not be bewitched by her. The Master teaches you with all his heart and cares for you, you should stand by the Master and stay away from that evil nun, and you must not..."
Shi Hao said: "I know, I know!"
I returned to the room and rested for a while. The female Taoist priest in the temple brought me food. After eating, I took a hot bath and rested for a while.
Then he met up with Sha Lingshan, Madam Meihua and Madam Taohua, but gave the scroll first to Madam Taohua, who carried it on her back along with the packages they were carrying.
Sha Lingshan said, "Young Master, thunderclouds are rolling in the sky, Ying Zhao seems to be afraid and can't fly. This area is full of mountains and ridges. If Ying Zhao can't fly, it's better to ride a fast horse. Besides, fast horses are useless here.
"The Shushutai is on the south bank of the river, near Feifeng Peak and opposite Shennv Peak. If we rely on foot, the journey is still a bit far. I have asked Yuan Rong to arrange a boat for us. It is on the river at the foot of the mountain. Shall we take the boat?"
Shi Hao nodded and smiled: "Sister, just make the arrangements!"
At that moment, they went down the mountain and came to the river bank, where a pleasure boat had already been parked.
This pleasure boat is not very big and is used by scholars and writers for river cruises. The cabin is equipped with exquisite tea sets, fruits and snacks.
Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan entered the cabin, and Little Feicui followed them. Madam Plum Blossom was rowing outside, while Madam Peach Blossom was in the cabin, boiling water and making tea for them.
The small pleasure boat followed the river, breaking through the water surface and sailing all the way—
Chapter 188: Zi Luo Xie Zun, Interception in the River
Thousands of majestic peaks connect to a river, and it is the key to Jingxiang’s majestic momentum!
On both sides of the gorge, there are endless green mountains and peaks like screens. Sometimes there are huge mountains in front of you, and suddenly the road winds around. Sometimes huge rocks block the way, and suddenly the river is wide and the sky is high.
The surrounding area is full of rugged rocks, steep cliffs, winding valleys and towering peaks.
Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan sat facing each other by the window in the painted boat, while Xiao Feicui sat at a corner of the low table.
On the rosewood low table, delicate hands were fiddling with the tea set. After a while, two cups of hot tea were moved in front of Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan respectively.
Madam Taohua slightly bowed her delicate body and gracefully stepped aside.
Shi Hao sipped his tea while looking out the window.
As soon as he traveled through time, he found himself in Shu, and had seen many mountains and steep cliffs.
Even so, at this moment, people standing in this gorge, looking at the steep cliffs that seem to reach the sky, still feel as small as dust, with a humble feeling that how can human power fight against the sky.
Thunderclouds were surging in the sky, and the sound of thunder among the clouds added to the depression.
Sha Lingshan said softly, "There is a saying that 'anything out of the ordinary is a demon', and there is also a saying that 'when a country is about to fall, there will be demons'. Now that the world is in chaos, even all kinds of incomprehensible phenomena have emerged."
Shi Hao said: "In the Jianghu, there are many strange people or various evil characters, but in the past, the Barbarian Emperor was so powerful that no one could defeat him. Under his suppression, these evil characters and strange people dared not show up.
"I heard that Lie Zunyi hasn't appeared for several years. No matter how great he is, his life span of more than 300 years is coming to an end. In addition, the Barbarian Court has become so corrupt that there is no possibility of its continuation. The various forces that have been hiding in the past will naturally take action at the right time."
As he spoke, he looked up in front of the pleasure boat and saw a purple figure falling from the cliff.
The wall was thousands of feet high. The old man was wearing a purple robe that fluttered in the wind. He relied on his strong energy to support the robe to slow down his falling momentum.
Coupled with the rolling thunderclouds in the sky, at first glance, he looked like a celestial being breaking through the sky and falling straight down, with extraordinary momentum.
He faced the front of the pleasure boat, and Sha Lingshan faced him. Following his gaze, Sha Lingshan turned back to look out the window and saw the old man falling from the sky like a meteor. She waved her fan and smiled, "It seems he is coming for us."
With a bang, a strong force pressed down in front of the pleasure boat.
Looking at the old man in purple robe again, he was actually standing on the water, and the water surface rose and fell with this sudden energy.
Madam Meihua could not control the pleasure boat, and it was pushed back half a foot by the current.
Little Jade snorted, "What a domineering old man!"
Sha Lingshan smiled and said, "Let me go meet him!" She stood up gracefully, twisted her waist and walked out of the cabin, stood at the bow, and with light steps, the pleasure boat stopped steadily on the water.
The purple-robed old man stood on the water and said proudly, "Young lady, are you the head of the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion of the Evil Lotus Sect?"
Sha Ling fanned herself and smiled, "Senior looks very impressive, may I know if you are Senior Li Shanwenli, the 'Purple Luo Xiezun' of the Poison Sunflower Sect?"
"Zi Luo Xie Zun" Li Shanwen's eyes were like lightning, bursting with thunder-like light, sweeping towards Sha Ling Shan. Sha Ling Shan remained unmoved, holding her sleeves behind her with her left hand, and gently waving the round fan in her right hand.
Li Shanwen said, "The Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion has not been in the martial arts world for a long time. Now I heard that the young lady has achieved the fourth level of cultivation and appeared in the martial arts world. She first killed an entire family in Huozhou, and then forced back Li Ximing and Gui Xiaoren of the Ghost Extreme Sect in the Qinling Mountains and Changbai Mountains. She is so arrogant and domineering."
Sha Lingshan said, "Alas, we in the Demon Sect have always been secretive, how dare I be arrogant? The matter in Huozhou is an advanced Demon Sect ritual, and there is nothing I can do about it. As for the restaurant matter, it was just a small conflict between me and the Ghost Sect. As an old senior of the Poison Sunflower Sect, is Mr. Li going to stand up for the Ghost Sect?"
Li Shanwen snorted, his eyes piercing as he stared at Sha Ling Shan: "I am not interested in the conflict between your Xie Lian Sect and Gui Ji Sect. I just want to know why the young lady came to Wuxia?"
Sha Lingshan gently waved her Luo Fan and asked with a smile, "What? Has the Wu Gorge been occupied by the Dukui Sect?"
Li Shanwen said in a deep voice: "I just want to clarify something. Even though there were some conflicts between our two sects in the past, there are not too many unresolved grudges. I just want to know whether what the young lady is going to do here will conflict with us?"
Sha Lingshan looked up at the sky full of thunderclouds: "Could it be... that this weather was caused by you guys?"
Li Shanwen snorted coldly: "We don't have such a big hand yet... Could it be that the young lady is here for this too?"
Sha Lingshan smiled and said, "If I say that we really just happened to pass by and have nothing to do with what is going on here, and we don't want to know what you are doing, I wonder if you will believe me or not, old senior?"
Li Shanwen laughed out loud and said, "I feel relieved with what the young lady said!" As he spoke, black gas surged from under his feet and spread along the river towards the pleasure boat.
Sha Ling fanned the fan and said in a gentle voice: "Old senior, you totally don't believe it, right?" As the round fan turned and waved, a ball of fire appeared around the pleasure boat and spread underwater.
Li Shanwen sneered and said, "I just want to remind the girl that even though we in the Demon Sect are of different minds, we should not hinder each other in every way." His figure floated and flew towards the cliff on the right.
Dead fish were floating around the pleasure boat.
Sha Lingshan turned around and went into the cabin, sitting back opposite Shi Hao, and said, "I didn't expect that even this old guy would show up. The Poison Sunflower Sect has two elders, 'Evil Lord' and 'Poison Lord'. Both of them are fourth-grade masters. Although few people know about them in the martial arts world, they are well-known in the Demon Sect.
"The 'Evil Lord' is here, and the 'Red Neon Poison Lord' Helong City is probably not far away. The Poison Sunflower Sect has made great achievements this time, it seems that they are really ambitious."
Shi Hao pondered and said, "The Danyang Society is actually under the control of the Dukui Sect. They have already controlled the upper reaches of the Han River. If they occupy the entire Han River and then control the Three Gorges, it is equivalent to controlling the upper reaches of the Changhe River. Perhaps this is their current strategy?"
Sha Lingshan shook her head and said, "Although Huang Facai is a member of the Dukui Sect, Xiong Wanghu, the Tiger Swordsman, would never dare to have any connection with the Dukui Sect in public. Xiong Wanghu's reputation as a hero has been accumulated over the years. If someone gets solid evidence to prove that he is related to the Demon Sect, the territory he has worked so hard to build will immediately disappear, and he will end up like Sheng Menghui."
"If they wanted to help Xiong Wanghu control the Three Gorges, the two elders Xie and Du from the Dukui Sect would never dare to show up so openly. Although most of the martial arts people don't know them, the Demon Sect is all too familiar with them."
The two elders Xie and Du of the Poison Sunflower Sect are already old and have caused a lot of trouble in the Demon Sect in the past. Once they take action, it will be difficult to conceal it.
"In my opinion, this trip of the Poison Sunflower Sect in Wu Gorge should have nothing to do with Xiong Wanghu."
Shi Hao thought about it and nodded, "That's true! The Poison Sunflower Sect must have other intentions."
Sha Ling fanned herself and smiled, "Anyway, no matter what, the Poison Sunflower Sect has been making frequent moves recently and is very ambitious. We must be on guard!"
Suddenly, Lady Plum Blossom called out from behind: "Young Master, Young Lady! There are military warships behind us!"
Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan stuck their heads out and looked toward the back of the pleasure boat.
The gorge was winding, but the river was wide enough, and a warship was seen gradually emerging from the river bend at the rear.
After turning the corner, many wooden oars extended from both sides, and the warship accelerated further, approaching them quickly.
Sha Lingshan said, "Step aside first!"
Lady Meihua obeyed the order and drove the pleasure boat to the river bank.
The warship had two floors, a spout in the front and oars on both sides. It could carry as many as 800 people. Although it was not as big as the large-scale tower ships used for transporting troops, it was not small.
The front is sharp and wrapped in iron sheets, which can be used to violently ram enemy ships. The ship is covered with flags, swords and guns, making an astonishing sound. At first glance, it looks like a coiled dragon crossing the river, with a strong deterrent effect.
This is a warship used by the Barbarian Court to patrol the long river.
The pleasure boat was moving slower, but the warship, with its oars spread out, was moving at an extremely fast speed and soon caught up with them.
There were soldiers lined up in the cabin, including a barbarian general wearing armor, with a scar on his forehead, and carrying an iron bow on his back.
He waved his hand, and the soldiers on the cabin drew their bows and aimed at the pleasure boat.